Obi is suffering incurable renal failure, zoo officials announced on their Facebook page on Thursday.

They declined to comment further, saying that it is a difficult time for everyone there.

The Facebook post said staff at the facility in Aylesford noticed Obi’s appetite beginning to falter in October. Veterinary tests and consultations with specialists led to the sad diagnosis.

“He still seems quite content, is eating reasonably well and still seems to be enjoying good quality of life and so we will let him live out as much time as he has left and though it will break all of our hearts, we will make the decision to help him on his journey when the end approaches — we will not let him suffer,” the Facebook post says.

Obi is seen as a six-week-old cub in this undated file photo. (THE CHRONICLE HERALD)

The post said lions at the farm zoo in the past have lived long lives and have not shown signs of ageing until they were in their late teens or early 20s.

“We are not sure how much time we have left and though it hurts we felt that we should let you, his extended family, know that he is here and doing OK for now, but we are unsure if he’ll survive to see another open season. Send him good energy,” the post concludes.

As of Friday morning, the post had received more than 820 comments and was shared more than 1,000 times.